Line levels



Nov. 20, 1956 H. M. voN DUYKE LINE LEVELS Filed May 4, 1954 INVENTOR. WZ. muy' a. M

a Zaffism United States vPatentO LINE LEVELS Harrison M. Von Duyke, Wilmington, Del., assignor to Modern Products Manufacturing Corporation, Wilmington, Del., a corporation of Delaware Application May 4, 1954, Serial No. 427,587

2 Claims. (Cl. 33-207) This invention relates to line levels and it relates more particularly to the construction of such levels and the arrangement of the component parts thereof.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a line level which is so constructed and arranged that the same may be made at a minimum of cost, but which will, however, be reasonably accurate for its intended use.

A further object of the invention is to provide a line level of a novel construction whereby the same may be used not only on string or cord lines, but also may be used as .a bench level, and for indicating the slope of pipes of plumbing systems and the like.

The nature and characteristic features of the invention will be more readily understood from the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing forming part hereof, in which:

Figure l is a perspective view of a line level embodying the main features of the present invention, the same being shown operatively mounted on a cord line;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof;

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section thereof; and

Fig. 4 is la transverse section taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

It should, of course, be understood that the description and drawing herein are illustrative merely, and that various modifications and changes may be made in the structure disclosed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Referring tothe drawing, in the particular embodiment of the invention therein shown, the housing of the level comprises two parts each punched and formed from sheet metal.

The part comprises an inverted U-shaped channel member having an opening or cutout at 11 to permit the viewing of the bubble glass 12 which is positioned in the hollow interior of the housing member 10.

The bubble glass 12 is xedly secured within the channel member 10 by the means of any suitable cement or adhesive 13. The bubble glass unit 12 is of the usual construction comprising a tube having closed ends and being slightly curved in its longitudinal extension.

The bubble glass unit 12 is of the usual form being partially lled with a liquid 14 thereby to provide a bubble 15 which is brought to a location at the middle of the cutout 11 in the channel member 10 when the level is in true horizontal position.

The housing member 10 is closed at the bottom, and at the ends, by a closure member having a horizontally extending plate 16 positioned by a forced tit within the lower side walls of the housing member 10.

The plate 16 is located a short distance above the bottom edges ofthe side walls of the channel member 10 ICC whereby the level Amay be used on a flat surface witlithe bottom edges of the side walls of the housing member resting thereon, or the same may be used upon a transversely curved surface such as that of a pipe in a plumbing system or the like for indicating the slope of the pipe.

The ends of the plate member 16 are bent upwardly as at 17 and extend on the outside of the ends of the side walls of the channel member 10 and continue upwardly to provide hook-like extensions 18 at each end, each of which is so punched as to provide a recess 19 in which the line 20 is located when the device is mounted on the line 20 in the usual manner of utilizing line levels. Preferably the opening, from the side into the recess 19 provided for the line, has a constricted inlet, as at 21, to assist in the retention of the level on the line 20 after the level is mounted thereon.

Each of the end portions 17 of the closure member is provided with ya punched-in lip portion 23 adapted to be seated in the end of the channel member 10, thereby definitely positioning the line recesses 19 with respect to the bubble glass unit -to thus insure accuracy of the level when the same is mounted on a line,

It will be seen that there is thus provided a simple and inexpensive, yet reasonably accurate level, which is primarily intended for use on a line, but which may also be used in other ways and for other purposes as hereinbefore set forth.

I claim:

l. A line level comprising a housing consisting of two members each punched and formed from sheet metal, one of said members being of an inverted U-shaped channel formation initially open yat the bottom before the parts are assembled, and the other of said members comprising a longitudinally extending plate secured between the side walls of the channel member to constitute a bottom closure member, the closure member also having integral upwardly bent end portions closing the ends of the channel member and having portions projecting above the channel member to provide hook-like extensions for mounting the device on a line, a bubble glass unit xedly secured within the channel member, the channel member also having a central opening at the top for viewing the bubble glass therethrough, and the ends of the closure member having inwardly projecting lip portions complemental to the ends of the channel member for positioning the hook-like extension with respect to the bubble glass unit and for locating the bottom closure member in the channel member.

2. A line level comprising a housing consisting of two members each punched and formed from sheet metal, one of said members being of an inverted U-sh'aped channel formation initially open at the bottom before the parts are assembled, and the other of said members comprising a longitudinally extending plate secured between the side walls of the channel member to constitute a bottom closure member positioned a short distance above the bottom edges thereof thereby to provide downwardly projecting ledges on each side, the closure member also having integral upwardly bent end portions closing the ends of the channel member and having portions projecting above the channel member to provide hook-like extensions for mounting the device on a line, a bubble glass unit ixedly secured within the channel member, the channel member also having a central opening at the top for viewing the bubble glass therethrough, and the ends of the closure member having inwardly projecting lip portions complemental to the ends of thel channel member Patented N ov, "20,l 1,956A

for4 positioning the hook-likeA extension with respect t 1,716,744 Stowell June 11, 1929 the-bubbleglassunitand for locating the batman-closureJ 1;786,309-' Lea et-a1. Dec. 23, 1930 member in the channel member. 2,014,709 Volz Sept. 17, 1935 th l f 2,481,302 Fogel Sept. 6, 1949 22,017 Great Britain Oct. 19, 1898 999,066- Vaughan ,lilly-125511911,-` 

